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NEW DELHI: Canada has moved out several of its diplomats, who were stationed outside New Delhi, to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, according to a report by a Canadian television network citing official sources.
The development comes just days after the external affairs ministry called on Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff in India amid the ongoing row that erupted following Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
India has reportedly given Ottawa till October 10 to reduce its diplomatic staff “to a level on par with the number of Indian diplomats in Canada”, said the report in CTV News, a privately-owned Canadian television network. .On Thursday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had told reporters that while discussions were “ongoing” regarding the timeline for Canadian officials leaving, “given the much higher” presence of Canadian diplomats and “their continuing interference in our internal affairs”, India had “sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence”.
Global Affairs Canada, the department that manages the country’s diplomatic and consular relations, had previously stated that “with some diplomats having received threats on various social media platforms,” it was “assessing its staff complement in India”, said the CTV News report.
The development comes just days after the external affairs ministry called on Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff in India amid the ongoing row that erupted following Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
India has reportedly given Ottawa till October 10 to reduce its diplomatic staff “to a level on par with the number of Indian diplomats in Canada”, said the report in CTV News, a privately-owned Canadian television network. .On Thursday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had told reporters that while discussions were “ongoing” regarding the timeline for Canadian officials leaving, “given the much higher” presence of Canadian diplomats and “their continuing interference in our internal affairs”, India had “sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence”.
Global Affairs Canada, the department that manages the country’s diplomatic and consular relations, had previously stated that “with some diplomats having received threats on various social media platforms,” it was “assessing its staff complement in India”, said the CTV News report.
“As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India,” the department added.
It is learnt that the number of Canadian diplomats in India is around 60 and New Delhi wants Ottawa to reduce the strength by at least three dozen.
(With inputs from agencies)
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